Press Releases

Washington, D.C. -Today, Reps. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, released the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) made the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (AMA) fully effective:

“For far too long our veterans with pending appeals on their disability compensation claims have waited an inexcusable amount of time, as their appeals got stuck in an outdated and cumbersome process,” said Roe. “In August of 2017, President Trump signed the AMA into law, which created three lanes for appeals claims. Today is the day that VA has fully implemented the AMA, which means VA will now begin processing veterans’ appeals more effectively and faster. I am grateful for my colleague Rep. Mike Bost who introduced this bill during the 115^th Congress, if it weren’t for his leadership on this issue our veterans appeals would still be stuck with an old, outdated system. I also want to thank Secretary Wilkie for working hard to ensure that VA was ready to implement this law on time and for President Trump who made this day possible by signing the AMA into law."

“This law  to reform the VA appeals process is vitally important for America’s heroes and their families,” said Bost.  “Too many veterans have faced intolerably long waits during the VA’s benefits claims appeal process. By modernizing the system, we will ensure they get the help they need in a more efficient and effective manner. This law is a great example of what is possible when we put partisanship aside and work together towards a shared goal. I’ll continue to perform my oversight role in Congress to ensure that the VA serves our veterans and implements this law effectively.”

Background:

The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, as amended, creates three “lanes” for veterans’ appeals, including the “Local Higher Level Review Lane” in which an adjudicator reviews the same evidence considered by the original claims processor; the “New Evidence Lane,” in which the veteran could submit new evidence for review and have a hearing; and the “Board Lane,” in which jurisdiction for the appeal would transfer immediately to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.

The bill, which was cosponsored by every member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs during the 115^th Congress, passed the House 418-0 on May 23, 2017. The Senate amended and passed H.R. 2288 on August 1, 2017. The President signed it into law on August 23, 2017. Click here for more information. Read the bill here.